Florida Notary Public Exam Prep Updated 2026 |
200+ Practice Questions & Verified Answers |
Ultimate Florida Notary Certification Study Guide,
State Notary Training Review, Notarial Acts,
Acknowledgments, Jurats, Oaths & Affirmations,
Electronic & Remote Online Notarization (RON),
Florida Notary Laws, Ethics, Fraud Prevention,
Detailed Rationales
Question 1: According to Florida Statute 117.01, who is primarily responsible
for the appointment and regulation of notaries public in the state of Florida?
A. The Florida Attorney General
B. The Florida Secretary of State
C. The Governor of Florida
D. The Chief Financial Officer
CORRECT ANSWER: C. The Governor of Florida
Rationale: Florida Statute 117.01 explicitly states that the Governor of Florida is the
appointing officer for notaries public. The Governor has the sole authority to appoint
and commission notaries, while the Secretary of State serves as the custodian of notary
records and administers the application process.
Question 2: What is the maximum number of years for which a Florida notary
public commission is valid before it must be renewed?
A. 2 years
B. 4 years
C. 6 years
D. 10 years
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 4 years
Rationale: Under Florida law, a notary public commission is issued for a term of four
years. This term is standard across the state and requires the notary to apply for
reappointment upon expiration.
Question 3: Which of the following is a mandatory qualification to become a
notary public in Florida?
A. Be a registered voter in Florida
B. Be at least 21 years of age
C. Be a resident of Florida for at least one year
D. Be a citizen of the United States
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Be a citizen of the United States
,Rationale: Florida Statute 117.01 requires that an applicant be at least 18 years old and
a legal resident of Florida, but the specific mandatory qualification from the options is
U.S. citizenship. While registration to vote and age are factors, citizenship is a non-
negotiable statutory requirement.
Question 4: A Florida notary public who is an attorney may perform notarial
acts for which of the following?
A. Any person, as long as the notary does not have a conflict of interest
B. Only clients of their law firm
C. Only family members
D. Only court-related documents
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Any person, as long as the notary does not have a
conflict of interest
Rationale: An attorney who is a notary may notarize for any individual, provided there
is no conflict of interest or disqualifying interest in the transaction. The notary must
remain impartial and cannot notarize if they are a party to the document or stand to
benefit directly.
Question 5: Under Florida law, which of the following is NOT an acceptable
form of identification for a principal to present to a notary?
A. A valid U.S. passport
B. A valid Florida driver's license
C. A valid foreign driver's license without an English translation
D. An identification card issued by the U.S. Department of Defense
CORRECT ANSWER: C. A valid foreign driver's license without an English
translation
Rationale: Florida law (s. 117.05) requires that identification be current and issued by a
U.S. state, the federal government, or a foreign government if it is accompanied by a
valid English translation. A foreign driver’s license without a translation is not
acceptable.
Question 6: What is the maximum fee a Florida notary public may charge for
performing a notarial act, excluding travel fees?
A. $5.00
B. $10.00
C. $15.00
D. $20.00
,CORRECT ANSWER: B. $10.00
Rationale: Florida Statute 117.045 sets the maximum fee for a notarial act at $10.00 per
signature. Notaries may charge additional fees for travel, but only if the fee is agreed
upon in advance and is not based on the notarial act itself.
Question 7: A notary public in Florida who witnesses a signature and then
affixes their seal is performing which type of notarial act?
A. Jurat
B. Acknowledgement
C. Certification
D. Copy certification
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Acknowledgement
Rationale: An acknowledgement is a notarial act where the signer appears before the
notary and acknowledges that they signed the document voluntarily. The notary does
not need to watch the signer sign; they only confirm the identity and willingness.
Question 8: In Florida, a notary public is required to maintain a notary
journal. What is the statutory retention period for this journal?
A. 3 years
B. 5 years
C. 10 years
D. Permanently
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 10 years
Rationale: Florida Statute 117.045 requires notaries to keep a journal of all notarial acts
performed. The journal must be maintained for a period of 10 years from the date of the
last entry.
Question 9: If a notary public in Florida loses their seal or journal, how many
days do they have to report this to the Department of State and local law
enforcement?
A. 1 business day
B. 5 business days
C. 10 business days
D. 30 days
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 5 business days
, Rationale: Under Florida Administrative Code 1B-24.001, a notary must notify the
Department of State and the appropriate local law enforcement agency within 5
business days of discovering the loss or theft of their notary seal or journal.
Question 10: Which of the following is a prohibited practice for a notary public
in Florida regarding immigration documents?
A. Notarizing a signature on a naturalization application
B. Providing legal advice about immigration status
C. Verifying the identity of an immigrant
D. Certifying a copy of a passport
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Providing legal advice about immigration status
Rationale: Florida notaries are expressly prohibited from providing legal advice,
including advice on immigration matters, unless they are also licensed attorneys. This is
a strict rule under Florida law to prevent the unauthorized practice of law.
Question 11: A notary public in Florida administers an oath to a witness. This
notarial act is known as a:
A. Verification
B. Jurat
C. Acknowledgement
D. Protest
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Jurat
Rationale: A jurat is a notarial act where the signer swears or affirms the truthfulness of
the contents of the document in the presence of the notary. The notary administers the
oath or affirmation.
Question 12: Under Florida law, the notary's official seal must contain which of
the following elements?
A. The notary's date of birth
B. The notary's Social Security number
C. The words "Notary Public" and "State of Florida"
D. The notary's email address
CORRECT ANSWER: C. The words "Notary Public" and "State of Florida"
Rationale: The Florida notary seal must include the notary’s name, the words "Notary
Public," and the state of Florida. It must also include the commission number and
expiration date. Personal information like birth dates or Social Security numbers are not
required.
200+ Practice Questions & Verified Answers |
Ultimate Florida Notary Certification Study Guide,
State Notary Training Review, Notarial Acts,
Acknowledgments, Jurats, Oaths & Affirmations,
Electronic & Remote Online Notarization (RON),
Florida Notary Laws, Ethics, Fraud Prevention,
Detailed Rationales
Question 1: According to Florida Statute 117.01, who is primarily responsible
for the appointment and regulation of notaries public in the state of Florida?
A. The Florida Attorney General
B. The Florida Secretary of State
C. The Governor of Florida
D. The Chief Financial Officer
CORRECT ANSWER: C. The Governor of Florida
Rationale: Florida Statute 117.01 explicitly states that the Governor of Florida is the
appointing officer for notaries public. The Governor has the sole authority to appoint
and commission notaries, while the Secretary of State serves as the custodian of notary
records and administers the application process.
Question 2: What is the maximum number of years for which a Florida notary
public commission is valid before it must be renewed?
A. 2 years
B. 4 years
C. 6 years
D. 10 years
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 4 years
Rationale: Under Florida law, a notary public commission is issued for a term of four
years. This term is standard across the state and requires the notary to apply for
reappointment upon expiration.
Question 3: Which of the following is a mandatory qualification to become a
notary public in Florida?
A. Be a registered voter in Florida
B. Be at least 21 years of age
C. Be a resident of Florida for at least one year
D. Be a citizen of the United States
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Be a citizen of the United States
,Rationale: Florida Statute 117.01 requires that an applicant be at least 18 years old and
a legal resident of Florida, but the specific mandatory qualification from the options is
U.S. citizenship. While registration to vote and age are factors, citizenship is a non-
negotiable statutory requirement.
Question 4: A Florida notary public who is an attorney may perform notarial
acts for which of the following?
A. Any person, as long as the notary does not have a conflict of interest
B. Only clients of their law firm
C. Only family members
D. Only court-related documents
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Any person, as long as the notary does not have a
conflict of interest
Rationale: An attorney who is a notary may notarize for any individual, provided there
is no conflict of interest or disqualifying interest in the transaction. The notary must
remain impartial and cannot notarize if they are a party to the document or stand to
benefit directly.
Question 5: Under Florida law, which of the following is NOT an acceptable
form of identification for a principal to present to a notary?
A. A valid U.S. passport
B. A valid Florida driver's license
C. A valid foreign driver's license without an English translation
D. An identification card issued by the U.S. Department of Defense
CORRECT ANSWER: C. A valid foreign driver's license without an English
translation
Rationale: Florida law (s. 117.05) requires that identification be current and issued by a
U.S. state, the federal government, or a foreign government if it is accompanied by a
valid English translation. A foreign driver’s license without a translation is not
acceptable.
Question 6: What is the maximum fee a Florida notary public may charge for
performing a notarial act, excluding travel fees?
A. $5.00
B. $10.00
C. $15.00
D. $20.00
,CORRECT ANSWER: B. $10.00
Rationale: Florida Statute 117.045 sets the maximum fee for a notarial act at $10.00 per
signature. Notaries may charge additional fees for travel, but only if the fee is agreed
upon in advance and is not based on the notarial act itself.
Question 7: A notary public in Florida who witnesses a signature and then
affixes their seal is performing which type of notarial act?
A. Jurat
B. Acknowledgement
C. Certification
D. Copy certification
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Acknowledgement
Rationale: An acknowledgement is a notarial act where the signer appears before the
notary and acknowledges that they signed the document voluntarily. The notary does
not need to watch the signer sign; they only confirm the identity and willingness.
Question 8: In Florida, a notary public is required to maintain a notary
journal. What is the statutory retention period for this journal?
A. 3 years
B. 5 years
C. 10 years
D. Permanently
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 10 years
Rationale: Florida Statute 117.045 requires notaries to keep a journal of all notarial acts
performed. The journal must be maintained for a period of 10 years from the date of the
last entry.
Question 9: If a notary public in Florida loses their seal or journal, how many
days do they have to report this to the Department of State and local law
enforcement?
A. 1 business day
B. 5 business days
C. 10 business days
D. 30 days
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 5 business days
, Rationale: Under Florida Administrative Code 1B-24.001, a notary must notify the
Department of State and the appropriate local law enforcement agency within 5
business days of discovering the loss or theft of their notary seal or journal.
Question 10: Which of the following is a prohibited practice for a notary public
in Florida regarding immigration documents?
A. Notarizing a signature on a naturalization application
B. Providing legal advice about immigration status
C. Verifying the identity of an immigrant
D. Certifying a copy of a passport
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Providing legal advice about immigration status
Rationale: Florida notaries are expressly prohibited from providing legal advice,
including advice on immigration matters, unless they are also licensed attorneys. This is
a strict rule under Florida law to prevent the unauthorized practice of law.
Question 11: A notary public in Florida administers an oath to a witness. This
notarial act is known as a:
A. Verification
B. Jurat
C. Acknowledgement
D. Protest
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Jurat
Rationale: A jurat is a notarial act where the signer swears or affirms the truthfulness of
the contents of the document in the presence of the notary. The notary administers the
oath or affirmation.
Question 12: Under Florida law, the notary's official seal must contain which of
the following elements?
A. The notary's date of birth
B. The notary's Social Security number
C. The words "Notary Public" and "State of Florida"
D. The notary's email address
CORRECT ANSWER: C. The words "Notary Public" and "State of Florida"
Rationale: The Florida notary seal must include the notary’s name, the words "Notary
Public," and the state of Florida. It must also include the commission number and
expiration date. Personal information like birth dates or Social Security numbers are not
required.
